Machine for operating on fruits and the like



Dec. 5, 1939. T HIT E I 2,182,538

MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N FRUITS AND THE LIKE Filed April 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q "m m. 247%,

Dec. 5, 1939. c s 2,182,538

MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N FRUITS AND THE LIKE Filed April 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR OPERATING N FRUITS AND THE LIKE Thomas Bird Hitchens, Fruitland, Md, assignor to Ralph 0. Dulany, Fruitland, Md.

Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,32

6 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon fruits and vegetables, and more particularly to apparatus comprising pinching mechanism for removing stems and caps from fruits such as strawberries.

Specifically, the present invention is in the nature of an improvement on apparatus of the type shown in Patents No. 1,835,190, dated December 8, 1931, and 1,938,613 dated December 12, 1933, both to J. H. Stansbury.

In the operation of these patented machines, I have found that under certain conditions, as where the berry stems are particularly tough, the pinching mechanism, as heretofore constructed, Occasionally fails to properly remove such stems. The axes of the rolling elements constituting such pinching mechanism, as heretofore constructed, remain fixed with respect to each other, and the rolling elements exert a uniform pressure or pinching effect upon the berry stems. As above mentioned, it has been found that occasionally this pinching effect is insufficient to properly detach the stem from the berry.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this defect by providing means for periodically and momentarily increasing the pinching effect between the rolling elements, so as to completely remove and dislodge any stems which may be wedged in the bite of the rolling elements. This is accomplished by automatically moving one of the rolling elements toward the other at regular intervals.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in'the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine illustrated comprises end frames I and 2, suitably united. Journalled in and extending between these end frames is a power shaft or roller 3 driven from a suitable source of power (not shown) through a clutch 4.

Also extending between and supported in the end frames l and 2 is a second shaft or roller 5. This shaft is provided at each end with a spindle or journal 6 mounted eccentrically in a circular bearing block I, rotatably mounted in the end frame. Rigidly secured to the bearing block I is a gear 8, meshing with a pinion 9, secured to a shaft l0 extending between and journalled in the end frames I and 2. One end of the shaft [0 projects beyond the end frame I and is polygonal, as indicated at I l in Fig. 1', so as to receive a wrench by which it may be turned. It is normally'held stationary by means of a look nut l2.

Also extending between the end frames and journalled in bearing brackets I4 is a third shaft or roller l3 of relatively small size.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the rollers 3 and 5 are provided at intervals throughout their length with collars or flanges 3 and 5*, thus dividing the rollers up into longitudinal sections. Around each section of the rollers 3 and 5, and alsoaround the shaft or roller l3, passes a belt or apron 15. This is of the general nature shown in the second of the above mentioned patents and is preferably of rubber or rubber and fabric, and is provided with a ribbed or corrugated outer surface, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

It will now be apparent that the sections of the belt or apron l5 are driven by the drive shaft 3. The roller 5 is caused to rotate by the frictional engagement of the apron sections therewith, and in order to adjust the tightness of the apron sections as desired, the shaft I0 may be rotatedby applying a wrench to the end II thereof, and thus, through the gears 8 and 8, will change the angular position of the bearing blocks 1, and thus shift the spindles or journals 6 of the roller 5.

Cooperating with the travelling belt or apron I5 is a relatively small fluted roller l6, having at intervals throughout its length reduced portions Iii journalled in bearing brackets ll, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These bearing brackets are secured to a movable frame l8 extending throughout the length of the machine and resting upon the end plates l and 2.

The fluted roller I6 is normally disposed in substantial rolling contact with the belt or apron l5, and is frictionally driven thereby. The roller element l6 and the cooperating element l5 together constitute pinching mechanism, as in the two above mentioned patents, such pinching mechanism having its bite at the side..

In order to shift the frame [8 laterally and thus adjust the position of the roller element I6 relative to the shaft [3 over which the apron element l5 runs, the following construction is provided. A shaft I9 is journalled in the end walls of the frame l8 and is provided at one end with a polygonal nut 20,by means of which it may be turned. It is normally held against rotation by 1 a set screw 2|. The shaft I9 is provided at each end with areduced eccentric portion 22 (see Figs. 2 and 5) which works between a pair of fixed pins 23 set into the end frame. Thus it will be seen that when the set screw 2| is loosened and 0 the shaft l9 turned by means of a wrench, the reduced eccentric portions 22, bearing against the pins 23, will shift the frame [8 laterally relative to the end frames l and 2.

The frame I8 is provided at the side adjacent the roller [6 with slots 24 through which pass pins 25 set into the end frames l and 2 and surrounded by springs 26 confined between washers 21, bearing upon the frame l8 at one end and nuts 28 secured to the pins 25, at the other end. Thus the frame I8 is yieldingly pressed against the end frames l and 2, and the fluted roller [6 is yieldingly held in contact with the belt or apron I5.

In order to carry the berries or the like longitudinally along the bite of the pinching elements, LS in the two above mentioned patents, a travellin belt 32 is provided, extending longitudinally of the machine and supported at its ends on rollers 29 and 30, adjustably mounted in brackets 3i, secured to the end frames. The run of the belt 32 adjacent the pinching mechanism is preferably supported by an angular backing plate 33, and a similar plate 3 3 is disposed above and in the plane of this run of the belt. A pipe 35, having perforations 36 along its side, is preferably mounted on the plates 34 for the purpose of spraying wateronto the berries as they travel along the pinching mechanism on the belt 32.

The features so far described are substantially similar to the Stansbury machine as heretofore constructed and form no part of my invention. As stated in the preamble, the object of the present improvements is to devise means for momentarily and periodically increasing the pinching effect between the roller element It and the cooperating element Hi. This I accomplish by forming at each end of the roller 5 adjacent the gears 8 a cam 31 adapted to engage the lower end of a threaded pin 38 passing vertically through the frame 58 at each end. By turning the pin or bolt 38, its vertical position may be adjusted as desired, and by means of lock nuts 39, it may be secured in adjusted position. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that when the lower end of the pin 38 rides up on the cam 3'1, the pin, and with it the frame 18, will be tilted into a position such as indicated by dotted lines. When thus tilted, the frame pivots about the edge H3 thereof and the rolling element [6 is thus forced downwardly toward and pressed strongly against the belt or apron l5. It will be seen that this momentary movement of the roller element It toward the apron 15 occurs periodically at each revolution of the shaft or roller 5.

If, as hereindescribed, the roller H5 is of relatively hard material such as metal, and the cooperating element i5 is of relatively soft material such as rubber, the result of moving the frame 18, as shown in dotted lines, is to force the pinching elements together and to cause the teeth or flutes of the hard roller 56 to be pressed into the surface of the soft apron i 5.

I have found, in practice, that this periodic and momentary forcing of the pinching elements together and thus increasing-the pinching effect, results in severing and removing any particularly tough or stubborn berry stems which may have failed to respond to the normal pinching action, and in dislodging any such stems from the bite of the rolling elements. In this way, the efficiency of the machine is materially increased.

While I have shown and described my improvements as particularly applicable to strawberry capping machines of the Stansbury type, it will be understood that, in its broader aspects, the present invention is also applicable to pinching mechanism generally, designed to operate on various kinds of fruits or vegetables.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinching mechanism comprising a horizontal roller element and a cooperating element forming a bite therewith, of means for continuously rotating said elements, one of said elements being bodily movable and the other mounted on a fixed axis, and automatic means separate from said elements for periodically and momentarily positively moving the movable one of said elements bodily toward the other, to increase the pinching efiect.

2. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal shaft, an endless flexible apron passing over said shaft, a roller mounted above and parallel with said shaft, the surfaces of said apron and roller being disposed in pinching relation, and automatic means separate from said apron and roller for periodically and momentarily positively moving said roller closer. to said apron.

3. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal shaft, an endless flexible apron passing over said shaft, a, roller mounted above and parallel with said shaft, the surfaces of said apron and roller being disposed in substantial rolling contact, and automatic means in addition to said apron and roller for periodically and momentarily increasing the pressure between said apron and roller.

4. In a machine of the class described, a fluted roller and a transversely corrugated endless flexible apron mounted closely adjacent each other so as to form a bite between them, means for driving said apron, whereby said roller is caused to rotate by engagement therewith, andv automatic means independent of said roller and apron for periodically forcing said roller and apron closer together.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pinching mechanism comprising a horizontal roller element and a cooperating element in substantial rolling contact therewith, means for supporting said elements and means for continuously rotating oneof said elements,

ing a horizontal roller element having a relatively hard, fluted surface, and a cooperating flexible apron element having a relatively soft surface, in substantial contact with said roller element, means fordriving said apron element, and automatic means for periodically and momentarily positively forcingsaid elements closer together so as to press the fluted surface of the roller element into the soft surface of the apron element.

THOMAS B. KITCHENS. 

